Allardyce had planned to keep transfer business to a minimum next month hoping the squad he inherited would have the required survival tools.

But a home defeat against Watford last week has forced him into a rethink.

West Ham centre half James Collins and Utrecht’s £6m-rated striker Sebastien Haller are on his hit-list, though the Sunderland boss has cooled his interest in Lorient defender Lamine Kone.

“Ideally, I’d like to bring no players in,” said the Black Cats’ chief who is set to recall Younes Kaboul and Jermain Defoe at managerless Chelsea today.

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“But I want those already here to be achieving more than they have been. That would have made my job a lot easier in January.

“So this week, I got out on the road and went to try and sign players. It’s important to see what might be available and what isn’t.

“There’s so much speculation flying around I’ve spent much of the time actually finding out where those deals are and those that can actually happen before we make our move.

“I’ve gone to try and found out what the actual financial packages are and to find out if these players we keep getting phone calls about from agents are really available.”

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RUNNING THE SHOW: Sam Allardyce of Sunderland

If he is finding it tough to inspire Sunderland on the pitch, he’s finding life off it just as challenging.

“I’ve found it very difficult indeed,” he added.

“It’s a case of the old scenario: “Is he available? What’s the financial package? Does he want to come here and be involved in a relegation battle?

“I have to nail down what’s concrete and what’s not.

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LOOKING AHEAD: Sam Allardyce on the touchline

“There will be many disappointments because the success rate in the January window is very low so if we bring in two players next month, I think we’ll have done well.”

Allardyce is set to stick with the three-man central defence at Chelsea despite abandoning the system after just 20 minutes against Watford.

“I’m still tinkering with my systems to suit the players available and the teams we’re up against,” he said.